For a stretch Tuesday night in Nashville, the Islanders looked like they were in full control. They jumped out to a three-goal lead, their offense was humming, and Semyon Varlamov seemed set for a clean, stress-free night in goal.
That changed fast.
New York let the lead slip away, but still left Bridgestone Arena with a 4-3 shootout win over the Predators. The result gave Varlamov his first NHL victory since November 14, 2024, and after what he’s been through, that was the headline that mattered most.
Varlamov stopped 20 shots, then watched Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat handle the shootout to finish the job. For the 38-year-old, who has battled back after partial replacements of both knees, the night carried extra weight.
The Islanders gave him a cushion early. Anthony Duclair got them on the board a little more than three minutes in by redirecting a Jean-Gabriel Pageau pass.
Brayden Schenn made it 2-0 five minutes later when he buried his 300th career NHL goal. Then Horvat pushed the lead to 3-0 early in the second period, finishing a sharp cross-ice feed from Matthew Schaefer.
At that point, it looked like New York had the game under wraps.
Nashville had other plans. Filip Forsberg struck on the power play, Alexander Kerfoot trimmed the margin to one, and Ryan O'Reilly finished the comeback early in the third period. Just like that, a game that seemed headed for an easy Islanders win turned into a scramble to hang on.
Instead, New York steadied itself and survived the scare. The Islanders moved to 6-4-2 and bounced back after Sunday’s loss in Dallas.
There will be questions about another third-period lead surrendered, and Pete DeBoer won’t like the way his club handled a three-goal advantage. But in the end, the Islanders found a way to get two points.
And for Varlamov, nearly two years after his last NHL win, that was the part worth remembering.
In Other News...
Varlamov Just Delivered The Islanders Lift They Desperately Needed
Semyon Varlamov gave the Islanders exactly the kind of stabilizing night they have been searching for, turning aside 20 of 23 shots and blanking Nashville in the shootout of a 4-3 win. The result snapped a two-game winless streak and gave New York its first victory in Nashville since 2017, a road result that carried a little extra weight for a team looking to steady itself.
For Varlamov, it was more than just a strong outing in the crease, because the performance came after a long stretch without an NHL win. The Islanders have leaned on his experience before, and on this night he looked like the calming presence they needed, even as the game went beyond regulation and into a tense finish. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Recalls May Signal Something Bigger On Defense
The Islanders latest roster shuffle brought Pierre Engvall and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson up from the AHL affiliate, with Cal Ritchie and Matias Maccelli going on injured reserve and the club getting back to a 23-man roster. On the surface, it is a practical move to cover absences, but it also comes at a time when the blue line is still searching for clarity after a recent loss and coach Peter DeBoer has left open the possibility of making more changes if the current look does not hold.
Aitchesons recall is the part worth watching most closely, because it signals the Islanders are at least considering adjustments on defense rather than simply shuffling forwards to survive a short stretch. With pairings still unsettled and roster flexibility in play, the next few games could tell the staff whether this was just a temporary patch or the first sign of a deeper rethink on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Schaefer Just Gave Islanders Fans Another Reason To Watch Closely
Matthew Schaefer kept finding his way into the biggest moments of the Islanders overtime clash with Nashville, and the rookie defenseman ended up with a workload that stood out even in a game full of extra pressure. Peter DeBoer had plenty to like afterward, pointing to Schaefers poise and the way he handled a heavy night on the back end, where his 32:16 of ice time led all defensemen in the game.
What made the overtime stretch especially notable was how involved Schaefer stayed once the game moved past regulation. He drew the tripping penalty early in the five-minute session, then remained on the ice through the delayed-penalty power play and the rest of overtime, a rare level of trust in a young defenseman in a high-leverage spot. For Islanders fans, it was another reminder that Schaefer is already being leaned on in ways that go well beyond the usual rookie experience. [Read more 🡒]